Skip to main content

Brain gene regulation by territorial singing behavior in freely ranging songbirds.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Jarvis, ED; Schwabl, H; Ribeiro, S; Mello, CV
Published in: Neuroreport
May 27, 1997

To investigate the ecological relevance of brain gene regulation associated with singing behavior in songbirds, we challenged freely ranging song sparrows with conspecific song playbacks within their breeding territories. Males responded by approaching the speaker, searching for an intruder and actively singing. In situ hybridization of brain sections revealed significantly higher expression of the transcriptional regulator ZENK in challenged birds than in unstimulated controls in several auditory structures and song control nuclei. We conclude that singing behavior in the context of territorial defense is associated with gene regulation in brain centers that control song perception and production, and that behaviorally regulated gene expression can be used to investigate brain areas involved in the natural behaviors of freely ranging animals.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neuroreport

DOI

ISSN

0959-4965

Publication Date

May 27, 1997

Volume

8

Issue

8

Start / End Page

2073 / 2077

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Vocalization, Animal
  • Territoriality
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Male
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Genes, Immediate-Early
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Female
  • Birds
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Jarvis, E. D., Schwabl, H., Ribeiro, S., & Mello, C. V. (1997). Brain gene regulation by territorial singing behavior in freely ranging songbirds. Neuroreport, 8(8), 2073–2077. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-199705260-00052
Jarvis, E. D., H. Schwabl, S. Ribeiro, and C. V. Mello. “Brain gene regulation by territorial singing behavior in freely ranging songbirds.Neuroreport 8, no. 8 (May 27, 1997): 2073–77. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-199705260-00052.
Jarvis ED, Schwabl H, Ribeiro S, Mello CV. Brain gene regulation by territorial singing behavior in freely ranging songbirds. Neuroreport. 1997 May 27;8(8):2073–7.
Jarvis, E. D., et al. “Brain gene regulation by territorial singing behavior in freely ranging songbirds.Neuroreport, vol. 8, no. 8, May 1997, pp. 2073–77. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/00001756-199705260-00052.
Jarvis ED, Schwabl H, Ribeiro S, Mello CV. Brain gene regulation by territorial singing behavior in freely ranging songbirds. Neuroreport. 1997 May 27;8(8):2073–2077.

Published In

Neuroreport

DOI

ISSN

0959-4965

Publication Date

May 27, 1997

Volume

8

Issue

8

Start / End Page

2073 / 2077

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Vocalization, Animal
  • Territoriality
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Male
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Genes, Immediate-Early
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Female
  • Birds